Nifty Nimbus Self-Watering Pot

Who doesn’t love the idea of a self-watering plant pot? But if you’ve tried one and failed (with your poor plant succumbing to waterlogged roots), it’s time to get a Nimbus self-watering pot.

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Sponsored by Nimbus

Who doesn’t love the idea of a self-watering plant pot? But if you’ve tried one and failed (with your poor plant succumbing to waterlogged roots), it’s time to get a Nimbus self-watering pot. This unique pot allows just enough water to flow into the soil and then doesn’t allow more water to cycle in until the soil has naturally dried out. This wet-dry cycle gives the roots the time they need to breathe. When the soil is thirsty, it gets another drink. And the Nimbus pot’s water reservoir holds enough to keep the plant hydrated for up to four months!

How the heck does that work? If you like, just tell yourself it’s magic. I’d be content with that. But if you prefer a more real-world explanation, here you go.

How does the Nimbus self-watering pot work?

The Nimbus pot uses a patented watering system that allows the plant and its environment to determine when more water is needed. Just like in nature, the soil dries out and then moisture is replenished. The upper water reservoir, sandwiched between the inside and outside of the pot, holds water that flows into the lower reservoir when the water piston falls from its seal. The piston remains sealed until the soil has naturally dried out.

When the water indicator falls out of view, the pot still contains about 20 percent of the water in the upper reservoir and that’s your cue to fill it up again. There are several informative, less-than-two-minute videos at nimbuspot.com that do a great job of explaining the process.

Does the Nimbus pot really work?

Despite my decidedly brown thumb, I gave the Nimbus pot a go. Instructions (illustrations and a few words) and spare parts come inside the pot. I recommend watching the setup video before you get started just so you’re clear on how it works. That's not to say it’s complicated, but the Nimbus does have more going on than your basic clay pot.

I should have taken a bit more time to look at the setup instructions and video before I dove in. It says to “saturate” the soil after adding the plant or seeds. I only gave it a little drink, so the soil needed more water than it should have for the initial watering cycle. Remember, I’ve admitted to having a brown thumb and believing in magic.

So, soil in pot. Check. Cheerful Gerbera daisy plant in pot. Check. Water in reservoir. Check. I wanted to keep the plant outdoors, but temps were unseasonably cold, so I brought it inside. To speed up the drying-out process, I set the pot on a radiator cover in a south window. Normally a plant pot set in this location dries out in a matter of days, but the Nimbus has kept the daisies perky for weeks. Success!

P.S. If the sleek, white Nimbus doesn’t quite fit in with the look of your home or yard, just pop the whole thing into a larger pot that suits your fancy. The Nimbus P2 fits perfectly inside any 12-in. pot.

— Mary Flanagan, Contributing Editor

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of NIMBUS. The opinions and text are all mine.

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